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Windows 7 Compatible logo scheme unveiled
Author: Gareth HalfacreePublished: 1st October 2009
The new "Compatible with Windows 7" logo ensures that your new accessory works fine, even if you're running a 64-bit version.
As reported over on Engadget, the logo - which carries the text "Compatible with Windows 7" - is designed for use with hardware, software, and miscellaneous peripherals to reassure consumers that the kit they're buying will work with their Windows 7 install.
Where the logo departs from its predecessors for Windows Vista and Windows XP is that the single logo will cover support for both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the operating system. If you've only written 32-bit drivers for your particular bit of kit, you need not apply.
One of the greatest barriers to wide-scale adoption of 64-bit operating systems is the lack of 64-bit drivers for certain hardware - something with which anyone who has played with the 64-bit version of Windows XP will agree. By requiring both 32-bit and 64-bit drivers to be shipped as standard, Microsoft is cleverly ensuring that your average consumer doesn't even need to know what version of Windows 7 they're running - the hardware will still work just fine.
The logo scheme requires that manufacturers and programmers submit their drivers to the Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) for certification, which is - naturally - a paid service. Despite this, Microsoft states that over 6,000 accessories have already passed the testing requirements and have been certified as ready for use with all flavours of Windows 7.
Senior director of the Windows Product Strategy Group at Microsoft, Mark Relph, claims that compared to previous WHQL-based testing programs the Compatible with Windows 7 logo scheme has seen the company "reducing the amount of paperwork required and making it less expensive for our partners to achieve the logo."
As part of the scheme, Microsoft has launched a site where hardware and software developers can find guides and tools to ensure compatibility, along with information on how to apply for the logo.
Does the guaranteed 64-bit support indicated by the new logo scheme fill you with joy, or are you just concerned that this could turn into another "Vista Ready" debacle? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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Is it just me, or are all these steps-in-the-right-direction Microsoft have been making recently starting to worry you? It's just not right that they are being so, well, sensible!
No, because not all software is 64bit compatible. We have a few people at work who are quite looking forward to getting Win7 on their work machines, but will be limited to the 32bit version because of issues with certain bits of software that they have to use.
Is there, actually, anything 32-bit that doesn't run on 64-bit? Haven't found anything myself so far, other than a touchpad driver for the Envy.
It's definitely cause for concern. The OS seems to work fine, no driver problems so far and they're redoing the compatibility scheme in a sensible fashion. What's next? The zombie apocalypse?
However I fully expect the successor to Windows 7 to be 64 bit only.
maybe that would be a good candidate for windows xp mode? :)
Definitely, that is one of the features I am most looking forward to in 7. Even with the built in emulation those programs will not run in the vista 64-bit environment. I find it kinda funny that some of these engineering programs won't ever get updated from the original programming.
"We can't use a 64-bit OS, they don't support it."
When the software costs thousands, as well as the support, you tend to find people won't tempt fate by bending the confines of their support contract. It's quite sad from our point of view, but there.
However, I'm impressed; this is a good move for Microsoft and computing in general. I also expect (hope?) that such a large shift to simultaneous 32/64bit computing will filter down to plenty of non-Microsoft applications. The official Adobe Flash player for Linux, as an example, is still pretty picky about what I play on my Ubuntu work machine. The 32bit release works like a charm here at home. I'm hoping that this (excellent) move by Microsoft will drive their development model towards better compatibility.
In all honesty I was hoping that the Home Premium/Professional/Ultimate end of the product range would all be 64bit or bust, personally. But I guess we'll simply have to wait for Windows 8. :)
I've found a few things that dont work. Mostly 2 netgear products, 1 was a wireless G usb dongle and the other a wireless G pci-e card. Both product boxes state "works with windows vista" however what they fail to mention is 32bit versions only as netgear offers no drivers for 64bit Vista. Learned the hard way. Hell even my cheapy dynew Wireless G dongle has Vista 64 bit drivers however they are constantly conflicting with windows causing random blue screens and also causing Windows to freeze randomly while trying to load at startup. So yes there is quite a bit of hardware out there that you have to be careful with if you run 64 bit.
32-bit software should run just find on 64-bit versions of Windows.
32-bit drivers do not work at all on 64-bit versions of Windows.
How many new systems (ignoring netbooks) will ship with a 32bit processor anyway? It's time for 32bit to be retired.
TomH, some 32bit drivers do work in a 64bit system.
I use a 32bit driver on my laptop with Win7 64bit. Sometimes you can get them to work.